Videos show alleged Florida school shooter laughing about imminent massacre

Gatehouse Media Wire

Thursday

May 31, 2018 at 11:45 AMMay 31, 2018 at 12:19 PM

Nikolas Cruz says in one video, "My goal is at least 20 people with an AR-15. … Location is Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Florida."

Cellphone videos released Wednesday by Broward County, Florida, prosecutors show alleged Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz talking about how he planned to go on a rampage at the Parkland, Florida, school.

"Hello. My name is Nick, and I'm gonna be the next school shooter of 2018," Cruz says casually at the start of one video.

"My goal is at least 20 people with an AR-15 and a couple tracer rounds," Cruz says. "Location is Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Florida. It's gonna be a big event. And when you see me on the news, you'll all know who I am."

Cruz is charged with first-degree murder in the slayings of 17 people on Valentine's Day at Stoneman Douglas High School.

In a second video, the longest of the three, Cruz can be heard off-camera, talking next to a bicycle.

(Editor's note: Video contains explicit language.)

"I am nothing. I am no one. My life is nothing and meaningless," Cruz says. "I hate everyone and everything. With the power of my AR you will all know who I am."

Cruz then places the blame for the shooting on people telling him "what to do and when to do."

"I had enough of being — telling me that I'm a idiot and a dumbass, when (in) real life, you're all the dumbass. You're all stupid and brainwashed by these f-----g political government programs. You will all see. You will all know who my name is."

He finishes the second video by professing his love for a person referred to only as "Angie."

"I hope to see you in the afterlife," Cruz says to Angie. "From one day or another you will end and we'll all die."

Another video shows Cruz talking about his preparations to get to the school and where he planned to go once there.

"I'm gonna go take Uber in the afternoon before 2:40. From there I'll go into the — onto school campus, walk up the stairs, unload my bags and get my AR and shoot people down at the main — what is it? — the main courtyard, wait, and people will die," he says while sitting on what appears to be a park bench.

Cruz faces 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted first-degree murder. If convicted, he could be given the death penalty.